Ballet Deviare

Ballet Deviare was founded in 2003 and is located in New York City and is the premier Heavy Metal ballet company. It is the brainchild of Laura Kowalewski (Co-Director and choreographer) and Andrew Carpenter (Co-Director). It is a truly unique ballet company due to the kind of music that is used coupled with the choreography. Specific musical genres that are used include, grind, doom metal, death metal, black metal, progressive metal, and folk metal. The vocabulary of movement that Laura Kowalewski draws from includes classical ballet, modern, butoh, and heavy metal "posturing". Segments with the band Arsis have been featured on Headbanger's Ball.

Composer/Bands utilized by Ballet Deviare include: Arsis, Gwynbleidd, Opeth, My Dying Bride, Swallow the Sun, Funeral, Japanische Kampfhörspiele, and Celestiial.

Ballet Deviare has been featured in Pointe Magazine, New York Post Newspaper, Decibel Magazine, Metal Edge Magazine, Terrorizer, Rock Hard Magazine (Germany), Pit Magazine, i-D Magazine, Northeastern Magazine and others.

Ballet Deviare has mounted 4 productions in NYC. As well as performed at The Town Hall Theater in Times Square NYC as the opening act for Opeth on Feb 23, 2007.

Productions that Ballet Deviare has produced:

1. "Lightening the Dark" (2004)

2. "SEVEN" (2006) Act I

Pointes of Darkness Choreographer: Laura Kowalewski Composer: Swallow the Sun Song Title: Hold This Woe Dancers: Robin Cantrell, Kara Cooper, Kimberly Giannelli,Amanda Theunissen, Julia Welsh New York City Premiere NYC December 18, 2004

au delà de la mécanique Choreographer: Laura Kowalewski Composer: Mara’s Torment Song Title: A New Space Dancers: Samantha Koetsier, Hao-Lun (Hope) Kuei, Erika Sutter New York City Premiere NYC December 18, 2004

Affliction Choreographer: Shannon Plumstead Composer: My Dying Bride Song Title: My Wine in Silence Dancers: Robin Cantrell, Kara Cooper, Kimberly Giannelli,Samantha Koetsier, Shannon Plumstead, Erika Sutter,Amanda Theunissen New York City Premiere January 6, 2006

"… And the devil knows why” Choreographer: Laura Kowalewski Composer: Opeth Song Title: Deliverance Dancers: Samantha Koetsier, Shannon Plumstead, Erika Sutter, Julia Welsh New York City Premiere NYC December 18, 2005

Act 2

The Last Word Choreographer: Laura Kowalewski Composer: japanische kampfhoerspiele feat. elektrokill Song Title: alle wollen gut aussehen [und tun es nicht] Dancers: Robin Cantrell, Samantha Koetsier, Shannon Plumstead, Julia Welsh New York City Premiere January 6, 2006

Orbiting GLIESE 876 Choreographer: Laura Kowalewski Composer: Craig Andersonic Song Title: Titan's Sulfur Pit Disaster Dancers: Robin Cantrell, Kara Cooper, Kimberly Giannelli,Hao-Lun (Hope) Kuei, Shannon Plumstead, Erika Sutter,Amanda Theunissen New York City Premiere January 6, 2006

Tempest Choreographer: Laura Kowalewski Composer: Jim Malone of the band Arsis (All pre-recorded instruments were played by Jim Malone, with the exception of drums which were played by Michael Van Dyne). Song Title: A Diamond for Disease Dancers: Robin Cantrell, Kara Cooper, Kimberly Giannelli,Samantha Koetsier, Shannon Plumstead, Erika Sutter, Amanda Theunissen, Julia Welsh New York City Premiere January 6, 2006

3. "Forged" (2007)

4. "Memento Mori" (2008) Act I

Tempest Choreographer: Laura Kowalewski Composer: James Malone of the band Arsis Song Title: A Diamond for Disease Dancers:Sarah Glick, Shannon Maynor, Jessica Miller, Shannon Plumstead, Erika Sutter, Kristen Voss New York City Premiere January 6, 2006

The Rising Choreographer: Shannon Plumstead Composer: Gwynbleidd (performed live) Song Title: The Awakening Dancers:Sarah Glick, Shannon Maynor, Jessica Miller, Shannon Plumstead, Lauren Soroken, Erika Sutter, Kristen Voss New York City Premiere January 5, 2007

Untitled Choreographer: Shannon Plumstead Composer: Funeral Song Title: Pendulum Dancers: Laura Kowalewski, Shannon Maynor, Shannon Plumstead, Jessica Miller, Lauren Soroken New York City Premiere May 23, 2008

Act II

Disconsolate Choreographer: Laura Kowalewski Composer: Celestiial Song Title: Waldlander Im Herbst Dancers: Sarah Glick, Jessica Miller, Shannon Plumstead, Lauren Soroken, Erika Sutter, Kristen Voss New York City Premiere January 5, 2007

The Last Word Choreographer: Laura Kowalewski Composer: japanische kampfhoerspiele (JaKa) Song Title: alle wollen gut aussehen [und tun es nicht] Dancers:Sarah Glick- Sunday May 25th/ Kristen Voss- Friday May 23rd and Saturday May 24th) New York City Premiere January 6, 2006

Disconsolate continued Choreographer: Laura Kowalewski Composer: Negura Bunget Song Title: Ţesarul De Lumini Dancers: Sarah Glick, Shannon Maynor, Shannon Plumstead, Jessica Miller, Lauren Soroken, Erika Sutter, Kristen Voss New York City Premiere May 23, 2008

16 Petals Choreographer: Laura Kowalewski Composer: Gwynbleidd (performed live) Song Title: Thawing Innocence Dancers: Sarah Glick, Shannon Plumstead, Erika Sutter, Kristen Voss New York City Premiere May 23, 2008

Sponsors for "Memento Mori" included: DianaK Lighting - www.DianaK.com Soundpole - http://soundpole.net/S.P.A..html PHLEGETON Art Studio - http://www.phlegeton.com RIDDICKART - www.riddickart.com GRIND HOUSE STUDIOS - www.myspace.com/grindhousestudios Foodswings - www.foodswings.net Forest Media - www.forestmediaconsulting.net Materials for the Arts - www.nyc.gov/html/dcla/html/mfta/mfta_main.shtml Jakprints - www.jakprints.com

External links

Official website: http://www.balletdeviare.org